Friday, June 22, 2012

Shirlyn Pappas and Laurence Schmahll pose with offending scriptures after his court victory.

In a case sure to have local religious freedom advocates abuzz a man was charged by Redding California Police Department for holding a sign by the road in the Walmart area.

The sign did not ask

for money, or state that he would work for food, but contained Bible verses which the man was charged for of all things soliciting.

Laurence Schmahll stated that he received a ticket from Redding Police Officer "Marks, badge number 183" for the dastardly Christian crime of displaying two Bible verses in public written down on cardboard.

Fortunately for Mr. Schmahll the case was taken up by Redding attorney Timothy Pappas and Pacific Justice Institute , a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.

Of course with Mr Pappas's legal council the case was quickly thrown out of the Shasta County courtroom.

Now that homelessness is a crime in Redding and Shasta County it is good to see that so far Christian evangelism is not.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

A gentle homeless soul in her 70's who loves to collect money to feed her stray animal friends.

Homeless for the majority of 16 years, she camps out in the wooded area by the Sacramento River known as the Henderson Open Space. Recently she alleges that Bob Brannon, community work program officer for the Redding California Police Department has threatened to arrest her if she dident leave the Henderson area, and that she would loose her beloved pet dog, and that he was sick of cleaning up after her.

"Catwoman" is a very warm and easy to talk to individual. She loves to feed and take in unwanted stray dogs and cats, and it is said that she has developed a relationship with wild animals as well, feeding turtles and baby skunks as they rub up against her like baby kittens. Unfortunatly when Bob Brannon discovers and raids her camp, he throws away pounds of Cat and Dog food, as well as any survival homeless camping gear she has managed to obtain.

"Catwoman" is a cancer survivor, and unfortunatly needs a constant supply of colostomy bags to maintain her health. The last thing this dear homeless senior citizen needs is a threat of arrest, and the loss of her beloved pet dog hanging over her head.

If you agree that homelessness is not a crime and Catwoman is not a criminal then please take the time to call the Redding Police Department at (530) 225 - 4200 and ask for Redding Police Chief Robert Paoletti.

Let him know that this is not Stockton, that we here in Redding are compassionate to our homeless senior citizens, and until Redding California and Redding Rotary is willing and able to provide adequate shelters and affordable housing for the growing numbers of homeless folks free of homeless camping tickets,criminalization and evictions that Henderson Open Space is big enough for everybody to share.

"Manuel Ramos, a police officer from Fullerton, California, has been charged with second degree murder for allegedly beating a mentally-ill homeless person to death last year. His co-worker, Officer Jay Cicinelli, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force. This video from a surveillance camera shows Kelly Thomas, the victim, pleading for his life while the officers beat him on the street."

Monday, June 4, 2012

The last resting place in Redding California for many of her Homeless Veterans.

No one who has served this Nation as Veterans in Redding and Shasta County California should ever be living on the streets homeless. Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States.

Homelessness is not just a problem among middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans including women from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.